Validus launches $10M Fund for SME Growth in Asia
Funding | May 09, 2025 | Vertex Venture Management Pte
Validus, a SME financing platform, in collaboration with Fintech Nation, has launched a US$10 million Embedded Finance Fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises across sectors like supply chain, food and beverages, and consumer goods. With its first close completed, the fund has begun deploying capital to provide growth financing, addressing an estimated SME credit gap of over US$320 billion in Southeast Asia. The funding model leverages real-time transactional data and ecosystem partnerships to enhance efficiency and risk management. The initiative aims to fortify the financial ecosystem for SMEs in Thailand and Indonesia through the Validus platform.
Sectors
- Financial Services
- Fintech
Geography
- Southeast Asia – The fund aims to address the SME credit gap in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand and Indonesia.
- Singapore – The press release is from Singapore, where these initiatives are being coordinated.
Industry
- Financial Services – The article discusses the launch of a fund for embedded finance, which integrates financial services into non-financial platforms, focusing on SME financing.
- Fintech – Validus and Fintech Nation are using innovative fintech solutions to address credit demands among SMEs.
Financials
- US$10 million – The size of the Embedded Finance Fund launched by Validus and Fintech Nation.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Validus | SME Financing Platform | Company | A platform focused on providing financing solutions for SMEs in Southeast Asia. |
| Fintech Nation | Public Benefit Corporation | Company | A public benefit corporation that promotes access to financial technology and funding for SMEs. |
| Vertex Venture Management Pte. | PE Firm | Company | A private equity firm presumably backing the initiative. |
| Vanessa Ho | Co-founder of Fintech Nation | People | Co-founder of Fintech Nation, involved in launching the new fund. |
| Milena Naitoh | Group Head of Corporate Development and Capital Markets at Validus | People | Involved in the strategic development of Validus' corporate initiatives. |